Marietta, GA — Last night, Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL-02), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL) hosted a virtual Gun Violence Prevention Youth Roundtable to hear from local youth about their experiences with gun violence and to discuss current gun violence legislation, including the Break the Cycle of Violence Act.

“Every single day, we hear from families across the country who are terrified that they will send their kids off to school and never see them come home,” said McBath. “The next generation has been telling us for years that we must do more to pass common-sense solutions that will help keep our families safe, and I am proud to be joined by my colleagues, youth advocates, and local leaders to discuss what we have done and what we must continue to do to end gun violence and save American lives.”  

“We know that the most powerful champions for community violence prevention are already embedded in their communities as mentors, faith leaders, teachers, and the youth that are affected by this violence on a regular basis,” said Horsford. “That’s why I was glad to host today’s roundtable and hear directly from the youth and community leaders in our districts on the impact of gun violence and how we can take concrete steps to address it. The time for inaction is over — we must move forward with addressing community violence and providing a safer future for all families.”

“Youth in my home state of Illinois and across the country are losing classmates, friends and family members every single day to our gun violence epidemic. We must include them in our decision making of how best to prevent gun violence.  I am so proud of the youth who participated in our discussion tonight for sharing their stories and for their advocacy work on behalf of gun violence survivors everywhere. Their courage is inspiring. I will remember their advice as I continue fighting to pass gun violence prevention legislation in Congress,” said Kelly.

“Breaking the cycle of violence in our communities starts with listening to the voices of those who have lived experience. Tonight’s round table was an important opportunity for us to hear directly from our constituents about what’s working, what’s not, and how we can continue to work to break the cycle. I was proud to join my colleagues for such a meaningful and productive conversation,” said Blunt Rochester.

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which was introduced earlier this summer, would do the following:

• Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award $5 billion in grants over eight years to community-based, nonprofit organizations and eligible units of local government to create and/or support:
  • Community outreach programs.
  • Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) that provide intensive counseling, peer support, case management, mediation, and social services to patients recovering from gunshot wounds and other violent injuries.
  • Group violence interventions strategies, which are a form of problem-oriented policing that provides targeted social services and support to individuals at highest risk for involvement in community violence, and a process for community members to voice a clear demand for the violence to stop.
  • Violence interruption and crisis management initiatives.

• Create an Office of Community Violence Intervention at the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the Act.
• Establish a Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to provide advice and assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Community Violence Intervention to carry out the Act.
• Create a National Community Violence Response Center to provide technical assistance to grantees in the implementation of coordinated community violence intervention and prevention programs funded through the grant program.
• Direct the Secretary of the Department of Labor to create a $1.5 billion grant program for eligible organizations and units of local government to provide job training, education, apprenticeship, skilled trades training, or other paid or unpaid work experiences for opportunity youth in communities disproportionately impacted by violence. 

The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of community partners, including Giffords, Community Justice Action Fund, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, Faith in Action, and Amnesty International, among others.